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Crime ring allegedly makes millions selling defective iPhones

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Apple supplier will start building crucial iPhone component in India
Employees allegedly made and sold iPhones out of discarded components.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Foxconn has launched an investigation after a group of “management staff” were accused of a $43 million iPhone scam. The scam, which ran for three years, involved a Taiwanese businessman and staff at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou, which manufactures iPhones.

The alleged “crime ring” assembled iPhones out of rejected components, and then sold them on to customers.

Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri is found on a whole lot of devices.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Thanks to Amazon’s Echo devices, Alexa is probably the AI assistant most likely to come up in a conversation. But Siri is still the most popular virtual assistant of them all.

According to a new report by Futuresource Consulting, Siri currently leads the virtual assistant pack with a 35% global marketshare. Google Assistant follows behind with 9% of the marketshare, while Alexa makes up just 4% of AI assistants.

Early Mac Pro benchmarks won’t blow you away

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Mac Pro cheese grater
You might be better off with iMac Pro instead.
Photo: Apple

Early benchmarks for the 2019 Mac Pro have now started surfacing online — and they might be a disappointment for some.

The scores achieved by entry-level and mid-tier machines are similar to those you will get from a 2017 iMac Pro. In fact, iMac Pro and even the budget Mac mini achieve significantly higher scores in some tests.

Apple Music offers up to 6 months of free music for the holidays

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Streaming services like Apple Music dominate the US music market
And it's open to existing subscribers, too!
Photo: Apple

Apple Music’s standard free trial offer is a generous 90 days. But, for the holidays, someone in Cupertino has decided to double this.

By using the Shazam app, would-be Apple Music subscribers can get a total of 6 months Apple Music for free. And you can even get some free months it if you’re currently, or have previously been, an Apple Music subscriber.

Use SmartDNS to dodge annoying content restrictions [Deals]

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KeepSolid SmartDNS
Watch your favorite shows anywhere, free of location restrictions with this easy-to-use DNS proxy app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When you travel, your TV shows might not be able to go with you. That’s because some content is legally only viewable in certain countries. So, if you’re not in the right country for that Netflix or Hulu show, you can’t watch it until you get home. But with KeepSolid SmartDNS, location-based content restrictions aren’t a problem.

Mario Kart’s final tour of 2019 brings holiday cups, courses and more

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Mario-Kart-Tour-holidays
The holidays have arrived in Mario Kart Tour.
Photo: Nintendo

Mario Kart Tour is closing out 2019 in style with new characters, cups, and courses for the holidays.

There are a variety of locations to enjoy, from historic cities to iconic rainbow roads, plus the wonderful Jingle Bells sleigh. It should keep racers going over the holiday break while we wait for online multiplayer.

Apple Watch’s ‘Ring in the New Year’ challenge will kickstart your 2020

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Apple-Watch-New-Year-Challenge
Start the Roaring Twenties on the right step.
Photo: Apple

This time of year isn’t great for health and fitness. With a constant barrage of holidays, comprising stodgy meals and plenty of snacks, we talk lots about New Year resolutions — but don’t necessarily act on it.

However, your trusty Apple Watch is ready to nudge you in the right direction, courtesy of Apple’s upcoming “Ring in the New Year” challenge. Here’s what you need to know about it:

Apple joins rivals to create open standard for smart home devices

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Abode Iota is a security system by itself
Building your smart home is about to get a whole lot easier.
Photo: Abode

Apple is teaming up with Amazon, Google, and the Zigbee Alliance to create a new open and royalty-free standard for smart home devices.

Project “Connected Home over IP” aims to increase compatibility among smart home gadgets and make development easier for device manufacturers. It should also simplify smart technology for consumers.

Fortnite’s brand-new Battle Lab lets you decide the rules

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Fortnite-Battle-Lab
Download the 11.31 update today to get started.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite’s newest update is out with a brand-new Battle Lab that lets you create the rules for your own Battle Royale matches.

You can select from your favorite limited-time game (LTM) pools, set up custom combat scenarios, and specify your own settings. The version 11.31 update also brings a bunch of bug fixes across all platforms.

Some publishers report that Apple News+ isn’t a ‘huge boon’ for business

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Some publishers report that Apple News+ isn't a 'huge boon' for business
News+ offers more visibility, but doesn't bring in masses of cash for publishers.
Photo: Apple

Compared to the likes of Apple Music and Apple TV+, Apple News+ doesn’t exactly seem to be setting the world on fire, publishers say.

A new report claims that, nine months after its launch, publishers are not viewing News+ as the “cure-all” they might have hoped for. While the subscription service is helping them reach wider audiences, some publishers report seeing “little impact” on their bottom line.

This is your best shot at snagging AirPods Pro today

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Apple reportedly adding another supplier for its ultra-popular AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro aren't easy to come by right now, but don't give up hope!
Photo: Apple

Even though AirPods Pro are basically sold out everywhere, there’s still a chance you could snag a pair today. And with a simple Siri trick, Apple makes it easy for you to snag 2019’s hottest gift.

If you absolutely want to get AirPods Pro by Christmas, and don’t want to pay a reseller a premium, here’s your best shot for finding a pair ASAP.

Wanda Sykes’ LGBTQ docuseries lands on Apple TV+

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Visible
Wanda Sykes is coming to Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ added a new docuseries to its roster of upcoming content after striking a deal with actress and comedian Wanda Sykes’ production company this week.

Visible: Out on Television is set to debut on Apple TV+ on February 14, 2020. The five-part series will examine how television shaped the LGBTQ movement and vice-versa and will include a lot of familiar faces you’ll probably recognize.

How to remove Memoji stickers from your keyboard in iOS

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Want to remove Memoji stickers from your keyboard? It's easy to switch them off.
Have Memoji stickers taken over your keyboard?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

iOS 13 introduced a new love/hate feature: Memoji stickers. Now, whenever you open the emoji keyboard on your iPhone or iPad, these stickers take up the leftmost space. That alone would be fine. However, the stickers also replace the panel showing your recently used emoji (or at least shifted that panel right).

If you don’t like the current state of affairs, don’t fret. You can quickly remove those pesky Memoji stickers from your keyboard.

Steal Samsung’s sweet Star Wars wallpapers for your iPhone

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Star-Wars-wallpaper-iPhone
They look great on OLED screens.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Samsung just dropped its new Galaxy Note 10+ Star Wars Edition, and it looks awesome. But if you’re not ready to ditch your iPhone and spend $1,300 on something else, just steal its sweet wallpapers instead.

There are eight in total, and they’re ideal for any Star Wars fan. They also look terrific on iPhone.

iPhone 11 Pro can’t outshoot a $250,000 TV camera

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iPhone v. TV camera
Sometimes size does matter.
Screenshot: Zebra Zone/YouTube

The iPhone may replace other cameras in many homes. But it won’t send professional still and video cameras to their grave like some believe.

To make this case, YouTuber Zebra Zone created a ridiculous video showing an iPhone 11 Pro in a shootout with a $250,000 broadcast TV camera.

Disable Turbo Boost to keep your MacBook cool

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disable Turbo Boost
Turbo Boost enabled.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Compared to an iPad, even the new 16-inch MacBook Pro runs pretty hot. In my first impressions post about the latest Apple laptop, I noted that the fans went crazy pretty much any time I switched it on. That has stopped now, thanks to two things: One is that my photo library is fully indexed, and the other is that I have disabled Turbo Boost.

But how?

Developers get their hands on first iOS 13.3.1, macOS 10.15.3 betas

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iOS 13 on an iPhone X
Have you upgraded yet?
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple today made its first iOS 13.3.1 and macOS 10.15.3 betas available to developers.

The minor updates don’t have patch notes yet. But they likely fix a serious flaw in Communication Limits, which can allow messages to be received from unauthorized contacts, among other bugs.

New betas are also available for HomePod, iPad, and Apple TV.

Trippy puzzler Manifold Garden lands on Apple Arcade

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manifold garden
You've never played a game quite like this.
Photo:

Apple Arcade recently added yet another title to its massive library of games and it’s one of the trippiest games we’ve played.

Manifold Garden puts players in an Escheresque world where repeating geometry is used to make you question the very laws of physics. Your task is to solve puzzles to restore vegetation to the barren landscape. The weird geography makes you feel like you just took a high dose of LSD making all the puzzles that much harder.

Check out the trippy teaser:

Meet the inventor who will untangle all our cords 

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Product line from Fuse
Your Apple charging cords need not be a tangled mess.
Photo: Fuse

Logan Bailey, an inventor of accessories that untangle Apple charging cords, was himself tied in knots.

There was no hiding it at the altar as he faced the woman he was about to marry. Bailey was stressed. Deep down, his bride-to-be knew why.

With AirPods Pro sold out, resellers seek huge markups

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AirPods Pro on eBay come at a premium.
Anyone who must have a pair of AirPods Pro next week should be ready to pay extra for them.
Screenshot: eBay/Cult of Mac

Virtually every retailer already sold out of Apple’s new AirPods Pro, and resellers are offering these popular earbuds at hefty premiums.

Unfortunately, paying a big markup is probably the only way to get this accessory before Christmas or Hanukkah.

IDC: Apple’s wearables business will explode through 2023

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Apple’s wearables business will explode through 2023
Wearables are a gold-rated business for Apple.
Photo: Caviar

The “earwear” product category, made up of devices like the AirPods, is set to explode in the next few years. According to a new report by the International Data Corporation, the market for hearables will increase from 139.4 million units this year to 273.7 million in 2023.

The firm doesn’t break down projected sales by brand. However, with Apple’s market-leading status thanks to AirPods, it’s likely that Cupertino will do exceptionally well.

A single WhatsApp message can destroy your group chats

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WhatsApp group notifications
The WhatsApp dream might one day come true.
Photo: WhatsApp

Security researchers have discovered that a single text message can destroy your group chats inside WhatsApp.

The flaw, present on both Android and iOS, causes WhatsApp to crash and forces users to reinstall the app. Affected group chats must be deleted to prevent the “crash-loop” from happening again.

But there’s good news: WhatsApp has already fixed the issue, so all you need to do is update to the latest version of the app.

Stay secure on public Wi-Fi networks with a VPN [Deals]

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pexels-photo-227690
Protect your online activity and browse without restriction for life.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you travel for the holidays or as part of your everyday life, going online on the road typically means being vulnerable to threats. Snoops and identity thieves love public Wi-Fi networks. For protection and peace of mind on the go, your best bet is a VPN.

Steve Jobs’ brief for iPad: A piece of glass for emailing on the toilet

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Steve Jobs’ brief for iPad: A piece of glass for emailing on the toilet
The iPad's natural home, apparently.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Steve Jobs’ on-stage iPad pitch to customers saw him relaxing in a luxury chair. His brief to Apple engineers actually building the iPad? “I want a single piece of glass I can use to read email on the toilet.”

That’s according to Imran Chaudhri, a 21-year Apple veteran, now chairman and president of Humane. Chaudhri was responding to a recent article about the iPad’s origins which appeared in the New York Times.